Hutchinson: “HCPS is Reluctant to Consider Department of Homeland Security Recommendations on How to Handle an Active Shooter Situation”

In light of the recent tragedy that occurred in Las Vegas, and changes which schools have taken to reduce the casualty rate in active shooter situations, I recently contacted Mr. Benedetto, Chief of Security for Harford County Public Schools, to inquire about whether HCPS was also considering options which should be taken in an active shooter situation. For those of you who don’t know, HCPS has conditioned students and staff to lockdown and hope that the police will be able to save everyone in the building for the last eighteen years. In an ideal world we would all hope that the people who have weapons and are trained could save us from the horrible tragedies that occur almost weekly in our world. However, we must realize that the national response time for police in an active shooter situation is five to six minutes.

Before the police could respond to Sandy Hook Elementary the lives of twenty-six people were cut short. At Columbine the shooters were active for 8.5 minutes and at Virginia Tech. the shooter was active for eight minutes. Lives were lost and saved on these days depending on the response which people took to the active shooter. At Sandy Hook, they took the same approach as HCPS and children were killed while locked down in a restroom. At Columbine students waited for several minutes in the library before they were shot. Unfortunately, they all could have survived if they would have sought the nearest exit in the Columbine library. This is based on the 911 tape of these events, not on any form of speculation on my part.

So, why does HCPS continue to condition our children to sit and wait when they could exit through a door that may be in their classroom? Mr. Benedetto says that they are acting in accordance with local law enforcement to create a safe environment for our children. I believe that he is working with local law enforcement, but HCPS has turned a deadly ear to the fact that the Dept. of Homeland Security began advising schools in 2008 to “Get Out, Hide Out or Take Out.” The International Association of Chiefs of Police also followed suit in 2009 with recommending that schools should not have “a one size fits all plan.” They further recommended that “teachers should choose to lockdown or evacuate.” These recommendations were made over eight years ago and MSDE also defers to the FBI to make similar recommendations to schools in Maryland.

To ensure all readers that I’m not on an ill informed rant, you should know that I was an administrator in HCPS for seven years. I followed these outdated practices and wondered why would all lives be placed in jeopardy when an active shooter may only pose a danger to one area of the building. Maybe HCPS doesn’t want to broach the morbid reality that we are all vulnerable no matter where we are in public places. I’m sure that when “Shelter in Place” drills first originated schools didn’t want to worry people about the unexpected dangers of people dropping bombs on our heads. Shelter in place drills became commonplace. Fire drills have become commonplace and allow for flexibility based on where the danger lies, but in the worst case scenario of an active shooter, Mr. Benedetto and HCPS refuse to consider options such as evacuating, countering the intruder and barricading the entry to a classroom full of children. As a result, active shooters know our response and will prey on the eery quiet of a building that is put in lockdown and waiting for the police to respond.

I’ve made a plea to HCPS to reconsider, but it has been quickly rebuffed by Mr. Benedetto. Please join me in considering options for keeping our children safe at the next Harford County Public Schools Board of Education meeting on Monday, October 23 at 6:30 PM.

As a parent of a child in a Elementary School in Aberdeen I’ve often wondered if the shelter in place was a good idea when almost all classes have a direct exit to the houtiside perimeter of the school & I believe fully that I would rather my child take a chance & run if that’s what his teacher decided best suited the class instead of being a “sitting duck” for lack of better terms , as parents we all pray this will never happen but as we know all to well there is NO SAFE PLACE in today’s world & honestly I believe it’s quite easy for a shooter to gain access because almost everyone is buzzed in & could easily run past the office .. in today’s works there are wolfs in sheeps clothing everywhere & I believe those policies somehow need be changed as well . I hope the school board takes this serious & reconsiders a better plan when we have thousands of precious lives at stake daily in schools .. young & old

“Fire drills” If there is legitimate fire, you really believe the practice of kids lining up and walking outside calmly is for real? Kids/adults are going to be screaming while running up and down the halls regardless in panic.

Please correct me if I am wrong but Harford County government has had ALICE training which is an effective active shooter training. Other MD county school systems have started this training as well. Let’s get on board Harford County. Keep our children safe.

There is almost no plan, no communication with staff about mass casualty, about active shooter, What roles does the school nurse, custodians, teachers, secretary’s, All of this plan needs to be coordinated with entire staff, we need to drill with students, and first responders. Training for entire staff on critical control points, and hazard assessments. There is some major hazards in the schools that most people don’t realize. This should be drilled so that lives will be saved.

I have two children in HCPS schools. I would very much prefer they have the option to exit the building as opposed to waiting around to get shot. I would further prefer that school staffer(s) be armed or have access to weapons. Trying to fend off an armed assailant with nothing but a telephone and a red highlighter is simply stupid. A nut case can walk into a school and find all the victims they might want cowering against a wall up waiting to be shot. Stupid, stupid stupid. They are just using the “bomb drill” plans from the 50’s with a new name.

I recently attended an active shooter presentation conducted by a representative of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. HCPS procedures came up during the meeting as there were several HCPS employees in attendance. It seems that some HCPS practices are not in sync with current recommendations, such as keeping the blinds closed in classrooms, preventing law enforcement from seeing in if there is an active shooter situation, and herding all of the children to one spot in the classroom, which makes them easier targets if a shooter enters the room. I got the impression that HCPS security was not open to recommendations from law enforcement, but I don’t have first hand knowledge, just what I heard from other attendees at the meeting.

I agree. Our drills are just for show. There is no attention to details the matter. I notice that BCPS schools have the room number in the classroom windows. That way law enforcement knows which windows go with which classrooms from outside the building. There is no way to tell that from the outside without those signs. It’s a simple thing that can end a critical situation faster and save lives. The problem is HCPS is reactive instead of proactive with everything. This is just another example.

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve been at the same high-school for over (20) years, and anytime we’ve ever done the “lockdown,” or even the “hide and we’ll see if we can see anyone!” drills, I have yet to see an administrator walk down my hall, much less look in the classroom window or jiggle a handle to make sure my door is locked. They run these drills so they can check them off in the books.

I was at the same meeting and yes that is hcps policy. Some of the schools are very old. Therefore there are schools with fewer exits then the newer buildings. Some students and teachers are housed in basements with few options to exit. Law enforcement officers have ALL community members to protect. So if they have an “updated” policy to protect the schools , hcps needs to listen. This needs to be moved to the front of the line. PLEASE don’t wait for a tragedy. Let’s for once be proactive hcps!

I know the official school policy. I also know that in a real active shooter situation, my students and I are going out the window. 100% chance of shooter in hallway beats 50% chance of shooter that might be hiding outside, or not. I will probably get fired but at least I might have a chance of surviving.

What does the good book say? “As for me and my house…we will conceal and carry”….or something like that..lol. Seriously though. In Israeli schools, Teachers open carry with no problems. You tend to behave when the Teach is standing in front of you with a Glock 36 holstered at his/her side. Anyway…my proposal is this. In the Summer, solicit Teachers who choose to only, sign up to receive Hand Gun training and the county pay for wear and carry (conceal only as to not upset little Suzie) permits, etc. The Teacher is to also take an Active Shooter training course designed specifically for them in a school/class situation. Teachers are NOT to reveal to other staff members, parents, administrators that they are carrying.